The river’s light: water needs for thermoelectric power generation in the Ebro river basin, 1969–2015
Fecha
2019Autor
Versión
Acceso abierto / Sarbide irekia
Tipo
Artículo / Artikulua
Versión
Versión publicada / Argitaratu den bertsioa
Identificador del proyecto
Impacto
|
10.3390/w11030441
Resumen
Water is essential for almost all energy processes. This paper analyses the evolution of
the cooling water needs of thermal power plants in the Ebro River basin, the largest contributor to
the Spanish electricity grid, over the period 1969–2015. It makes several contributions. First, the
cooling water needs for the plants are estimated. Second, these water requirements are compared to
other w ...
[++]
Water is essential for almost all energy processes. This paper analyses the evolution of
the cooling water needs of thermal power plants in the Ebro River basin, the largest contributor to
the Spanish electricity grid, over the period 1969–2015. It makes several contributions. First, the
cooling water needs for the plants are estimated. Second, these water requirements are compared to
other water-using activities in the region. Third, a long-term water-use efficiency analysis is carried
out. Finally, water-saving measures are proposed to counter possible future water scarcities. The
results show that thermoelectric water consumption per capita is around 7 m3/year. Estimated future
thermal power generation water withdrawals (around 500 m3 per capita/year) might compromise
flows for other water uses in periods of drought. [--]
Materias
Thermoelectricity,
Water consumption,
Water withdrawals,
Cooling technologies,
Ebro river
Editor
MDPI
Publicado en
Water 2019, 11, 441
Departamento
Universidad Pública de Navarra. Departamento de Economía /
Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa. Ekonomia Saila /
Universidad Pública de Navarra/Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa. Institute for Advanced Research in Business and Economics - INARBE
Versión del editor
Entidades Financiadoras
This research was supported by the Spanish Government through the MINECO research projects,
references HAR2014-53825-R and HAR2017-86086-R. The author also benefits from a research contract from Spanish Government through MINECO reference BES-2015-074128.